The U.S. Department of Energy says an indoor temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night is best. Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature at night may actually help you sleep better. Medical experts know that our body temperature drops at night.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends indoor temperatures of at least 64°F (you can drop that down to 62°F at night if you're really looking to save on your heating bill). But if you have infants, sick or elderly people in your household, then it's recommended that you keep the thermostat set at 70°F.
The World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for healthy people. The minimum temperature should be kept above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the very young, the elderly, or people with health problems. Watch out for signs of hypothermia.
An indoor temperature of less than 55 degrees may lead to freezing pipes, while anything more than 80 may damage drywall. Additionally, be sure to program your thermostat to these temperatures. Do not override the thermostat manually or you may see an increase in your energy bills.
As long as you feel comfortable, there are no health risks to sleeping in a colder room. Ideally, you should keep the temperature for sleep between 60 and 67 degrees to experience the maximum benefits.
Cold air inflames lungs and inhibits circulation, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma attacks or symptoms, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and infection.
The ideal temperature comfort range for most Americans drops to 65 to 72 degrees. The good news is you can lower your thermostat at night because your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard as it does during the day.
Energy.gov suggests that 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you're awake at home but recommends lowering it while you're asleep or away.
However, most researchers agree that seasons and temperature can affect rest quality and duration. While cool room temperatures can be good for deep sleep, cold temperatures and dry air can also be disruptive and keep you from falling asleep quickly.
How cold is too cold? Below 13° - If your home is this cold, it may increase your blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease. 14-15° - If your home is this cold, you may be diminishing your resistance to respiratory diseases. 18° - This is the recommended night time bedroom temperature.
According to the Department of Energy, 68 degrees Fahrenheit is the sweet spot when you're home during the winter. You can also drop it down a few degrees when you're sleeping to save more energy, as you'll be under the blankets for extra warmth.
Your house could be cold due to an old air filter, a faulty furnace, improper insulation, or leaky ductwork. The simple fixes, like replacing an air filter, are relatively easy to complete. However, if the heater itself needs repairs, it's best to call in a professional to take a look and determine the problem.
This may vary by a few degrees from person to person, but most doctors recommend keeping the thermostat set between 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6 to 20 degrees Celsius) for the most comfortable sleep.
You can save an average of 1% on energy costs for every degree reduced on your thermostat. Setting the thermometer eight degrees lower before you turn in at night may save you as much as $180 per year on your utility bill.
If your thermostat is normally at 72 degrees, try gradually lowering it to 68 degrees. Studies have shown that there is little difference in most people's comfort between these two temperatures, and every degree you lower your thermostat saves you 1 – 3% on your electric bill.
Everyone is different, and that's definitely true when it comes to ideal room temperature. That being said, the average room temperature in most homes falls somewhere between 68 and 76°F. (Interested in learning more about home automation and how it could benefit your family? You can learn more here.)
Transitioning to living in a cold home increases risk of mental distress. The risk of severe mental distress doubles for those with no prior mental ill health. The risk triples for those previously on the borderline of severe mental distress.
Do You Get Sick from Being Cold? While it's advice you've heard for years, Fecher says it's true, but not in the sense of catching a cold virus or the flu. “You can't get sick from being cold in general, whether you are outside or inside,” Fecher says.
Research suggests that wearing socks to bed can help people not only fall asleep faster, but sleep longer and wake up fewer times throughout the night. One study found that young men wearing socks fell asleep 7.5 minutes faster, slept 32 minutes longer, and woke up 7.5 times less often than those not wearing socks.
Don't be tempted to overheat the room because you have a cold. Keep the temperature at a comfortable level (69F – 72F) and bundle up with blankets that can be shoved off if you begin to overheat. The humidity in the room is important too. Dry air can worsen your cold symptoms and parch your nose and throat.
When lying in bed trying to fall asleep, your body temperature decreases to initiate sleep. Having a temperature between 60 and 67 can help to facilitate this. The best temperature to sleep is cooler rather than warmer. Temperatures above 75 degrees and below 54 degrees can disrupt a person's sleep.
You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.
Aging causes a natural decrease in metabolic rate, which means seniors' bodies might be unable to generate enough heat to maintain a "normal" temperature of 98.6 degrees. Slower circulation can make it difficult to retain heat throughout the body. This could be due to aging or medication side effects.
Recommended Temperature When You Are Home
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home.